"No British monarch has had such a close...association with Royal Newmarket as Charles II" John Sutton

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During the restoration, Charles faced the drama of regicides, the Great Plague, the Fire of London, and the humiliation of Dutch forces sailing up the Medway, capturing his flagship the 'Royal Charles' and destroying  5 other battleships. He became Patron of the Royal Society and spurred the creation of the Royal Observatory. Arts and science flourished under men like Milton, Newton, Halley and Flamsteed. Quite extraordinary, he converted to Catholicism on his deathbed!

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Charles appointed Wren as Surveyor-General and Principal Architect in the rebuilding of London, after the Great Fire of 1666. Imagine London without the magnificent St Paul's Cathedral, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home for veteran soldiers, and the exquisite Sheldonian Theatre. The city would quickly become the hub of the British Empire.

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Dramatic to end, his last words were:

"You must pardon me, gentlemen, for being a most unconscionable time a-dying"

Born 1630 – Died 1685 • King of England, Scotland and Ireland

Photo: Royal Collection/Wikimedia • Believed to be in the Public Domain (Age - Copyright expired)